Choose what’s right for you with confidence

The Used Car Safety Ratings guide is updated every year using crash data from New Zealand and Australia. This year 116 of the 227 types of vehicle listed for sale scored an excellent or good rating for driver protection in a crash – seven more than last year.

NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) general manager of access and use Celia Patrick said the ratings guide let motorists consider crash performance and driver protection across a variety of cars.

She advised people to buy the safest car they could afford.

AA general manager of motoring services Stella Stocks said the guide provides “safe picks”, with some priced under $10,000.

“Buyers should be looking for safety features like ESC and airbags throughout the car at a minimum. These devices save lives,” she said.

The AA and NZTA are members of the Vehicle Safety Research Group that commissioned the analysis.